Although destroyers were introduced during the early 20th century and were widely used by the end of World War II, India had none until 1949.[4] The R-class INS Ranjit, built in the United Kingdom, was the first destroyer commissioned in the Indian Navy.[6] Two more R-class ships were later commissioned.[4] Three Hunt-class destroyers were commissioned in 1953 to succeed the R-class destroyers.[5] These ships (all of which were built in the United Kingdom) were decommissioned by 1976, with the Hunt-class INSGodavari the last.[7][8][9]

During the 1980s, India signed an agreement with the Soviet Union for five guided-missile destroyers, built under Rajput class.[10] The first ship (INSRajput) of the class was commissioned on 30 September 1980. All five Rajput-class ships are still in active service.[11] The Rajput class was succeeded by the Delhi class, with INSDelhi, Mysore and Mumbai commissioned in 1997, 1999 and 2001 respectively.[12] The Delhi-class destroyers, built in India,[12] were succeeded by the Kolkata class in 2014.[13] The three Kolkata-class ships have been commissioned in 2014–2016, with INSChennai being the last.[14] An improvement of the Kolkata-class, INSVisakhapatnam (part of the Visakhapatnamclass), was introduced in April 2015 and will reportedly be commissioned by the end of 2018. Three more vessels are planned as part of the Visakhapatnam class.[15]

Commissioned ships

Ten destroyers from three classes are in active service.[16]INSKolkata, the lead ship of the Kolkata-classdestroyer with about 7,500 tonnes of displacement, is the largest.[14] Of the three proposed Kolkata-class ships, two have been commissioned and the third (INSChennai) is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2016.[13] The Kolkata-class frigates were preceded by the Delhi-class destroyer which entered service with the 1997 of its lead ship, INSDelhi. The Delhi class were the first destroyers built in India. The Rajput-class destroyers, which preceded the Delhi class,[12] consists of five ships built in the Soviet Union and were commissioned from 1980 to 1990.[10]

Kolkata class

The Kolkata class (Project 15A) is a class of guided missile destroyers with stealth technology.[13] By the year 2000, the Indian Navy had redesigned the follow-on Kolkata class to improve technology (including modern stealth characteristics) and in May of that year, approval for the construction was given. Concept and function for Project 15A was framed by the navy's Directorate of Naval Design, while the detailed design was developed by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).[17] It consists of three ships (Kolkata, Kochi and Chennai), built by Mazagon Dock Limited, which are the navy's largest destroyers. Due to construction delays and a problem discovered during sea trials, the first ship's commission was postponed from 2010 to 2014.[18]

Although the dimensions of Kolkata-class ships are similar to the previous Delhi class, their weaponry, sensors and helicopter systems have been upgraded.[19] With a standard displacement of 6,800t (6,700 long tons; 7,500 short tons) and a full-load displacement of 7,400t (7,300 long tons; 8,200 short tons) (two sources reported a full-load displacement of 7,500t (7,400 long tons; 8,300 short tons)),[14][20] they are the navy's largest destroyers.[21]

The Kolkata-class ships' primary offensive armament is supersonic BrahMos anti-ship and land-attack missiles.[23] The BrahMos missiles are fitted into a 16-cell universal vertical launcher module (UVLM) allowing one missile per launch silo; all 16 missiles can be fired in salvo.[24] A distinctive armament of the Kolkata class is its 76mm (3.0in) gun forward of the bridge. The 76mm gun provides limited anti-shipping and anti-air capability in addition to naval gunfire support for land-based operations.[13] For anti-submarine warfare, the class is equipped with a torpedo-launching system (with four torpedo tubes) and two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers.[13][25]Bharat Electronics Limited's electronic modular command and control applications (EMCCA) Mk4 provides combat management.[26]

Delhi class

The Delhi-class vessels are the third-largest warships designed and built in India, after the Kolkata-class destroyers and the Shivalik-classfrigates. They were built by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai.[16]Delhi-class design has Soviet and Western influences, incorporating elements of the Sovremenny, Rajput and Kashin-II-class destroyers and the Godavari-class frigate.[12]

The ships are fully fitted with flag facilities, such as their capability of operating in a NBC environment, and also Radar cross-section reduction is presumed to be minimal, to the extent that some sharp angles are flattened.[34] For primary air defence, a pair of two 3S-90 launchers (one forward of the bridge and the other atop the dual helicopter hangar) are fitted with the Shtil SAM system. The system consists of 24 Russian Shtil missiles in a below-deck magazine. The launchers elevate up to 70°, with a firing arc of 30° within the centreline. The launcher groups, which require a 20-man crew, weigh about 50 tons.[34]

The Delhi class is being upgraded with the Rafael Barak 1point air defence missile system, correcting the Shtil system's limited firing arc. It has an eight-cell vertical launch system and missile command-to-line-of-sight (CLOS) radar guidance with a range from 500m (1,600ft) to 10km (6.2mi). The missiles' maximum range is 32km (20mi). The ship has a surveillance capacity of over 350km (220mi) and can recon over an area of 250km (160mi).[34][35]

The ships have a five 533mm (21 in) torpedo tubes, which can be used to launch SS-N-15 "Starfish" or SS-N-16 "Stallion" ASW missiles, and is capable of hitting targets ranging from 50km (31mi) to 120km (75mi). They are equipped with two RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers with 12 tubes. Their range is 6km (3.7mi), and the maximum engagement depth is 500m (1,600ft).[34]

Rajput class

The Rajput-class guided-missile destroyers built for the Indian Navy (also known as Kashin-II class) are modified versions of Soviet Kashin-class destroyers. The ships were built in the former Soviet Union with Indian modifications to the Kashin design. These included the replacement of the helicopter pad in the original design with a flight elevator (to transports flights, aircraft, and helicopters, from hangar deck to flight deck, and changes to the electronics and combat systems. Five units were built for export to India during the 1980s.[10]

Decommissioned ships

All presently-decommissioned Indian Navy destroyers were built in the United Kingdom. The R-classINS Ranjit was the first destroyer commissioned by the navy; two more R-class ships were later commissioned.[4] Three Hunt-class destroyers were commissioned in 1953 to succeed the R-class destroyers.[5] The R-class INSRana was decommissioned on 30 June 1973, the first decommissioned destroyer. It was followed by INSRajput in 1973, INSRanjit, INSGomati and INSGanga in 1975 and INSGodavari in 1976. All the British-built ships were decommissioned by 1976.[4][5]

R class

The R class was a class of sixteen War Emergency Programme destroyers ordered for the Royal Navy in 1940 as the 3rd and 4th Emergency Flotilla. The Q and R class repeated the preceding O and P class, reverting to the larger J, K and N-class hull to allow for increased top weight (maximum permissible weight). Since they had fewer main guns than the J, K and Ns, magazine space was replaced by fuel bunkers[40] allowing for 4,675 nautical miles (8,658km) at 20 knots (37km/h) (compared with the 3,700nmi (6,900km) of their ancestors). Like the O and P classes, they were armed with available weapons: 4.7-inch (120mm) guns on single mountings allowing only 40° of elevation. As a result, on paper they do not compare favourably with many of their contemporaries. These ships used the Fuze Keeping Clock HA Fire Control Computer.[41] The R class repeated the Qs, except that the officers' accommodation was moved from the traditional right aft to a more accessible location amidships.[40][42]

Hunt class

The Hunt class was a class of Royal Navy escort destroyer. The first ships were ordered early in 1939 and the class saw extensive service in World War II, particularly on the British east coast and in Mediterraneanconvoys. The Hunts were modelled on the 1938 escort sloopBittern, a 262-foot (80m) ship of 1,190 tons with 3,300shp (2,500kW) on geared turbines for 183⁄4 knots and an armament of three twin Mark XIX mounts for the QF4-inch (102mm) Mark XVI gun. The guns were controlled by a Fuze Keeping Clock AA fire-control computer when engaging aircraft. The Hunt class had the same armament with a quadruple QF 2-pounder-mount Mark VII on a hull of the same length, but with 8 feet (2m) less beam and installed power raised to 19,000shp (14,000kW) to give 27 knots (50km/h). The first twenty were ordered in March and April 1939. They were constructed to Admiralty standards (like contemporary destroyers), unlike frigates which followed mercantile practice.[46][47][48]

Future ships

The Visakhapatnamclass, with enhanced attack and stealth capabilities, are planned to succeed the Kolkata class. Of the four Visakhapatnam-class ships, two (INSVisakhapatnam and INSMormugao) are under construction and the other two (INS Mormugao and INS Paradip) are in the planning stage.[49]

Visakhapatnam class

The Visakhapatnam class (Project 15B) is a class of stealth guided missile destroyers under construction. An improved version of the Kolkata class and ordered in 2011, the first Visakhapatnam-class ship is expected to be completed in 2018.[50][51] The class will have enhanced stealth characteristics and state-of-the-art weaponry and sensors, including the long-range Barak 8surface-to-air missile. The first ship's keel was laid in October 2013. The Visakhapatnam class will be armed with a 127mm main gun and an AK-630 close-in anti-missile gun system.[52][53]